MT Permit Practice Test 8

All 20 questions in test 8

Every question below comes from the Montana question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. What may a Montana Class D license holder drive?

   1. Any vehicle including tractor trailers
   2. Motorcycles of any size
   3. Any non commercial vehicle under 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
   4. Only passenger cars
   Show answer

   Any non commercial vehicle under 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. A Class D basic driver license allows you to drive any non commercial vehicle under 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Motorcycles need an endorsement, and heavier or commercial vehicles need a commercial class. The Class D license is the standard credential most Montana drivers hold, and it carries the graduated restrictions for new drivers under 18. Fees are listed in the fee section of the manual.

2. 2. How far from a fire station driveway must a Montana driver park?

   1. 15 feet on either side of the street
   2. 50 feet on the same side and 100 feet across the street
   3. 30 feet on either side of the street
   4. 20 feet on the same side of the street, or 75 feet when parking on the other side
   Show answer

   20 feet on the same side of the street, or 75 feet when parking on the other side. Montana prohibits parking within 20 feet of a fire station driveway on the same side of the street, or within 75 feet of the driveway when parking on the opposite side. The larger distance across the street gives fire trucks room to swing out. A single 15 or 30 foot rule for both sides is wrong, and 50 and 100 feet are not the distances in the manual. Never block any driveway, alley, or lowered curb either.

3. 3. Under current Montana law, how must a child who is 2 years old but not yet 4 be restrained in a motor vehicle?

   1. With an adult lap belt only
   2. In a rear-facing or forward-facing child safety seat with an internal harness
   3. On an adult's lap in the back seat
   4. In any seat position without a restraint if under 60 pounds
   Show answer

   In a rear-facing or forward-facing child safety seat with an internal harness. Montana updated its child restraint law in 2021 and 2025, replacing the older rule based on age 6 and 60 pounds. Children under 2 must ride rear-facing, children from 2 up to 4 must use a rear-facing or forward-facing seat with an internal harness, and children from 4 up to 8 use a harness seat or a booster with a lap and shoulder belt. An adult's arms are never a substitute: in a 30 mph crash a 100 pound adult becomes a 3,000 pound force against a child held in the lap.

4. 4. What driving adjustment is called for by this slippery-when-wet warning?

   
   1. Brake hard as soon as rain begins to clear the pavement
   2. Reduce speed, avoid hard braking or sudden direction changes, and increase following distance
   3. Follow more closely so another vehicle breaks the spray
   4. Maintain speed and make quick steering corrections
   Show answer

   Reduce speed, avoid hard braking or sudden direction changes, and increase following distance. The slippery-when-wet warning calls for a slower speed, gentle braking and steering, and more space behind the vehicle ahead. Hard braking or sudden direction changes can reduce control on unusually slick pavement. Following closely makes spray and stopping problems worse, while maintaining speed with quick corrections ignores the warning. Ease off the accelerator before the wet section, increase the gap, and make smooth inputs. The sign describes a condition that may not be obvious until rain reaches the pavement, so prepare before traction is lost.

5. 5. How should a Montana driver respond when approaching livestock or a horse-drawn vehicle?

   1. Turn toward the animal to claim the lane
   2. Honk to make the animal move faster
   3. Pass closely at normal speed
   4. Slow down and stop if the animal is coming toward the vehicle or crossing its path
   Show answer

   Slow down and stop if the animal is coming toward the vehicle or crossing its path. Animals can be frightened by motor vehicles, so the manual directs drivers to slow down and stop when an animal or horse-drawn vehicle approaches or crosses the vehicle's path. Honking or passing closely may startle it, while steering toward it creates danger. Allow the animal to pass, leave room when traveling in the same direction, and continue only after the path is safe.

6. 6. What hours are generally prohibited for a Montana teen with a first-year restricted license?

   1. 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
   2. 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
   3. 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
   4. Midnight to 7:00 a.m.
   Show answer

   11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.. The first-year restricted license bars teenage driving between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., subject to limited exceptions such as emergencies, school, church, work, and certain parent-authorized purposes. The other time ranges change one or both endpoints and therefore do not state the restriction. When studying the rule, remember the overnight window as eleven at night through five in the morning.

7. 7. How are Montana regulatory signs generally shaped and colored?

   1. Round with white words on a red background
   2. Diamond shaped with black symbols on yellow
   3. Rectangular with black words or symbols on a white background
   4. Pentagonal with green symbols on white
   Show answer

   Rectangular with black words or symbols on a white background. Regulatory signs generally use a rectangular format with black words or symbols on a white background, and drivers must obey the rules they present. Diamond yellow signs warn about conditions ahead rather than state ordinary regulations. Round red signs and pentagonal green signs are not the general pattern described for Montana regulatory signs. Color and outline work together, so use both clues when identifying an unfamiliar sign.

8. 8. What does Montana require when road or weather conditions make the posted speed unsafe?

   1. Keep the posted speed exactly
   2. Drive below the posted speed limit
   3. Increase speed to get through the bad conditions quickly
   4. Reduce speed only when police are present
   Show answer

   Drive below the posted speed limit. A posted speed limit is not a promise that the same speed is safe in every condition. Montana says to consider the road and weather and to drive below the limit when conditions are bad. Keeping the exact posted number can be too fast on ice, in rain, or when visibility is poor. Increasing speed makes control harder, and police presence does not determine when a reduction is needed. Use the limit as a ceiling, then choose a safe speed.

9. 9. Which movement is forbidden at the intersection shown by this sign?

   
   1. Making a right turn
   2. Making a left turn
   3. Driving straight ahead
   4. Changing lanes after clearing the intersection
   Show answer

   Making a left turn. The NO LEFT TURN sign bars a left turn at the intersection. It does not prohibit a right turn or straight travel unless another sign or signal says so. Changing lanes after the intersection is a separate maneuver and is not what the red slash over the left-turn arrow addresses. Drivers should select a permitted movement, continue without turning left, and look for a later legal route. The arrow symbol matters: the restriction follows the pictured movement, not every possible movement through the intersection.

10. 10. What fine range does Montana set for a first offense of driving without valid liability insurance?

    1. A fine of $250 to $500
    2. A $50 fine with no other consequence
    3. A mandatory one year license revocation
    4. A fine of at least $1,000
    Show answer

    A fine of $250 to $500. Driving on Montana roads without a valid liability policy is a misdemeanor, and a first offense is punishable by a fine of at least $250 and no more than $500. It also puts 5 points on the driving record. A $50 fine understates the offense, and the manual lists no automatic one year revocation for a first offense. A fine of $1,000 or more is well above the stated maximum. Repeat offenses bring larger fines and action against the vehicle's plates and registration.

11. 11. If an emergency vehicle approaches while you are in an intersection, what should you do under the Montana handbook?

    1. Accelerate and remain ahead of the emergency vehicle
    2. Stop immediately where you are in the intersection
    3. Turn left to create a path for the emergency vehicle
    4. Drive through the intersection, then pull right and stop
    Show answer

    Drive through the intersection, then pull right and stop. An emergency vehicle needs a predictable path, and stopping inside the intersection can block that path. Montana directs a driver already in the intersection to clear it before pulling to the right edge or as near right as possible. Then remain stopped until the vehicle passes. The immediate stop sounds cautious, but its location creates an obstruction and may leave the emergency driver unable to maneuver. Watch the mirrors, finish crossing safely, signal if needed, and stop where the response vehicle has room.

12. 12. Who sets the speed limit for a Montana construction or work zone?

    1. The nearest school district
    2. The driver based on the normal highway speed
    3. The responsible transportation agency, local authority, utility, or contractor for that zone
    4. A single statewide work zone limit of 25 mph
    Show answer

    The responsible transportation agency, local authority, utility, or contractor for that zone. Montana does not use one standard speed limit for every construction or work zone. The Department of Transportation, a local authority, a utility company, or a private contractor sets a speed specific to that zone. Drivers must read the posted limit and obey it, even if the surrounding road normally permits faster travel. Assuming a universal 25 mph rule misses the local posting, while choosing the normal highway speed ignores the temporary control. Orange devices and work activity should prompt an early speed check.

13. 13. How far from the nearest rail must a driver stop when a train warning requires a railroad crossing stop?

    
    1. At least 50 feet from the crossing sign
    2. Exactly 5 feet from the nearest rail
    3. Not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail
    4. Only after the vehicle reaches the first rail
    Show answer

    Not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail. When a train warning requires a stop, the vehicle must be positioned as close as practicable to the crossing but at least 15 feet from the nearest rail. Five feet is too close, and the 50-foot choice confuses a parking restriction with the stopping rule. Reaching the rail before stopping defeats the safety purpose. Leave room for the train, watch every track, and cross only when the route beyond is clear.

14. 14. When the dashed yellow line is on your side beside a solid yellow line, you may:

    
    1. Pass if it is safe to do so
    2. Pass only after dark
    3. Never cross the lines for any reason
    4. Use the opposing lane without checking traffic
    Show answer

    Pass if it is safe to do so. The side of the paired yellow lines matters. Montana allows a driver to pass when the dashed line is on that driver's side, but only if the movement is safe. A solid line on your own side would prohibit passing, while darkness does not create an exception. Even with the dashed marking, check sight distance, oncoming traffic, and the space needed to return before moving left.

15. 15. What does an HOV marking on a lane indicate?

    1. The lane is a temporary shoulder during congestion
    2. The lane is reserved for emergency vehicles only
    3. The lane is reserved for High Occupancy Vehicles
    4. The lane is reserved for motorcycles after dark
    Show answer

    The lane is reserved for High Occupancy Vehicles. An HOV pavement marking identifies a lane reserved for High Occupancy Vehicles. It is a lane use control, not a temporary shoulder or a general permission to use the lane whenever traffic is slow. A driver should read the surrounding signs for any occupancy requirement or operating hours before entering. The visual cue is the letters HOV painted in the lane. Treat that marking as a restriction on who may use the lane, and remain in a permitted lane when the condition is not met.

16. 16. Before entering a Montana traffic circle or roundabout, you must yield to:

    
    1. No one when your speed is below 15 mph
    2. Vehicles waiting behind you
    3. Drivers entering from every approach
    4. Drivers already in the circle
    Show answer

    Drivers already in the circle. Traffic already circulating has priority over a vehicle that has not entered. Montana states that drivers entering a traffic circle or rotary must yield to drivers already in the circle. The entering driver still needs to approach at a safe speed and proceed only when the path is clear. Being first in line or traveling below 15 mph does not create priority. Look left before committing to the circle and watch for pedestrians at the crossing.

17. 17. When may a driver turn right at a red light in Montana?

    1. After stopping in the proper lane and determining it is safe, unless prohibited
    2. Before stopping if no pedestrians are visible
    3. Only after waiting for a green arrow
    4. Whenever the driver signals, even if traffic is approaching
    Show answer

    After stopping in the proper lane and determining it is safe, unless prohibited. Montana permits a right turn against a steady red signal only after the driver has stopped, is in the proper lane, and has determined the movement is safe. A sign or police officer can prohibit the turn, and the driver must yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and traffic in the intersection. The no-stop option violates the first condition, while a green arrow is not required. Signaling alone does not create a gap. Use a red light as a stop instruction first, then evaluate the turn.

18. 18. What should a driver do before passing a bicyclist traveling in the same lane?

    1. Drive onto the shoulder to get around the bicyclist
    2. Share the lane closely if the bicyclist is near the shoulder
    3. Sound the horn and pass immediately within the same lane
    4. Wait until it is safe to pass in the adjoining lane
    Show answer

    Wait until it is safe to pass in the adjoining lane. Montana advises drivers not to share a lane with a pedestrian or bicyclist. The driver should wait until it is safe to pass in the adjoining lane, leaving the cyclist room instead of squeezing past within the same lane. A shoulder is not a shortcut around the safety check, and a horn does not make an immediate pass lawful or safe. Look for traffic approaching from behind and ahead, signal as needed, and complete the pass only when the neighboring lane provides enough space.

19. 19. If a tire suddenly goes flat while you are driving, which response follows Montana guidance?

    1. Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, and slow gradually
    2. Brake hard and turn sharply toward the shoulder
    3. Release the wheel so the vehicle can settle itself
    4. Stop immediately in the travel lane and leave the vehicle
    Show answer

    Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, and slow gradually. A sudden flat tire calls for a firm steering grip and a straight path while speed is reduced gradually. Hard braking or a sharp turn can destabilize the vehicle, which is why the option “Brake hard and turn sharply toward the shoulder” is unsafe. Releasing the wheel gives up directional control, and stopping in the lane creates a collision hazard. Take your foot off the accelerator, use the brakes lightly, and move off the road only after control is established.

20. 20. What does a steady yellow traffic signal tell a driver?

    1. The signal is about to turn red, so enter cautiously
    2. The driver has an unrestricted right of way through the intersection
    3. The driver must reverse to the previous intersection
    4. The signal grants permission to accelerate before cross traffic moves
    Show answer

    The signal is about to turn red, so enter cautiously. A steady yellow signal means caution and warns that the light is about to turn red. Enter only if stopping safely is no longer practical. It does not grant unrestricted priority, require backing up, or invite acceleration. The useful decision is based on stopping distance: if you can stop safely, do so; if you are already too close, clear the intersection carefully without creating a new conflict.